What Does Bad Breath Have to Do with Diabetes?

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Bad Breath and Diabetes

Sweet, fruity, with subtle notes of pear. This isn’t the
description of a dessert wine. Instead, these are words often used to describe
unpleasant breath associated with diabetes.

Your breath has an interesting ability to provide clues to
your overall health. Just as a fruity odor can be a sign of diabetes, an
ammonia odor is associated with kidney disease. Similarly, a very foul fruit
odor may be a sign of anorexia nervosa. Other diseases, such as asthma, cystic
fibrosis, lung cancer, and liver disease also can cause distinct odors on the
breath.

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be so telling that
doctors may even be able to use it to identify diabetes. Recently, researchers
have found that infrared breath analyzers can be effective in
identifying if you have prediabetes or early-stage diabetes. And researchers at
Western
New England University are testing a breathalyzer
that measures blood glucose levels.

Find out why bad breath can accompany diabetes, and learn
what you may be able to do about it.

What Causes Diabetes Breath?

Diabetes-related halitosis has two main causes: periodontal
disease and high levels of ketones in the blood.

Periodontal Diseases

Diabetes and periodontal disease is like a double-edged
sword. While diabetes can lead to periodontal diseases, these diseases can also
create further problems for people with diabetes. According to a report in IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, an
estimated one in three people with diabetes will also experience periodontal
diseases. Heart
disease and stroke, which can be complications of diabetes, are also linked to
periodontal disease.

Diabetes can reduce blood flow throughout your body,
including your gums. If your gums and teeth aren’t receiving a proper supply of
blood, they may become weak and more prone to infection. Diabetes may also
raise glucose levels in your mouth, promoting bacteria growth, infection, and
bad breath. To make matters worse, when your blood sugars are high it becomes
hard for the body to fight infection, which makes healing the gums difficult.

Periodontal diseases, also called gum disease, include
gingivitis, mild periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. In these diseases,
bacteria attack the tissues and bone that support your teeth. This may lead to
inflammation. Inflammation can affect metabolism and increase your blood sugar,
which worsens diabetes.

If you get periodontal disease, it may be more severe and
take longer to heal than in a person without diabetes.

Bad breath is a common sign of periodontal disease. Other
signs include:

red or tender gums

bleeding gums

sensitive teeth

receding gums

Ketones

When your body can’t make insulin, your cells don’t receive
the glucose they need for fuel. To compensate, your body switches to plan B:
burning fat. Burning fat instead of sugar produces ketones, which build up in
your blood and urine. Ketones can also be produced when you are fasting or you
are on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.

High ketones levels often cause bad breath. One of the
ketones, acetone (also the chemical found in nail polish) can cause a nail
polish-like odor on your breath.

When ketones rise to unsafe levels, you’re at risk of a
dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Symptoms of DKA
include:

a sweet and fruity odor on your breath

more
frequent urination than normal

abdominal
pain, nausea, or vomiting

high
blood glucose levels

shortness
of breath or difficulty breathing

confusion

DKA is a dangerous condition, mostly limited to people with
type 1 diabetes whose blood sugars are uncontrolled. If you have these
symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

What You Can Do

Along with neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, and others,
periodontitis is a common complication of diabetes. You
can, however, take steps to stave off gum diseases or to lessen their severity.
Take control with these daily tips:

Brush
your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily.

Don’t forget to
brush or scrape your tongue, a prime breeding place for foul-smelling
bacteria.

Drink
water and keep your mouth moist.

Use
sugar-free mints or gum to stimulate saliva.

Visit
your dentist regularly and follow treatment recommendations. Make sure the
dentist knows you have diabetes.

Your
doctor or dentist may prescribe a medication to stimulate the production
of saliva.

If
you wear dentures, make sure they fit well and take them off at night.

Don’t smoke.

Finding the Care You Need

Bad breath may be a sign of something more. If you have
diabetes, it’s important to be aware of what your breath may be telling you.
Your understanding may save you from advanced gum disease or the dangers of
DKA.